menepee



(No Model.) y

G. W. MENBFEE.

l SIGN. f No. 305,098. Patented Sept. 16, 1884.

4llivrrnn GEORGE W. MENEFEE, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

SIGN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 305,098, dated September 16, 1884.

Application filed March 1G, 1883. (No model.)

['0 all whom, it may concern,.-

Be it known that l, GEORGE WASHINGTON -MENEFEL of the city and county of San Francisco, California, have invented certain Improvements in Signs and Vanes, of which this, with the accompanying drawings, is a specilication.

The invention consists in asign arranged to swing with the wind like a vane, with details of construction applicable to vanes also.

Figure l is a cross-section of the sign or vane and a longitudinal section of the socket and bearings by which it is supported, showing also the rod, pole, or post on which said sign or vane swings, and the cross-arms and braces by which it is stiffened and strengthened. Fig. 2 is a side view. Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section of a portion of the lower end of the socket, showing one form of coupling and fastening. Fig. 4 is a vertical section of the upper end of the supi portingrod and of the' steel or other suitable cap fitted upon the top of this rod when said rod is made of wood and does not pass through the upper end of the socket. Fig. 5 is a vertical section of one form of coupling or head forming the upper end of the supportingsocket, showing also a vertical section of the cap in position within the socket.

In all these figures like letters indicate like parts.

A is a sign mounted upon a vertical axis, and arranged to swing with the wind like a vane. It may be counterbalanced and trussed, stiffened, and stayed with cross arms and braces, as shown.

B is a socket, upon which the sign or vane is mounted, and with which it swings. It consists in the present instance of ashort piece of gaspipe and the couplings C and D, though it may be made in any other suitable manner.

C is a coupling screwed upon the lower end of the pipe to form the lower bearing of the socket. It is provided with four lugs or eyes, to which are secured the braces K K.

C is another forni of coupling, sometimes used to form the lower bearing of the socket. It is provided with an internal flange upon its lower end, as shown in Fig. 3. These couplings may be bored at their lower ends when true bearings are desired.

D is a doublelT or four-way coupling screwed upon the upper end of the pipe to forni the upper end ofthe socket. lt inayalso be bored out to form a truc bearing for the rod or pole F. It may consist of a bearing only. D. Fig. 5, is another forni of this coupling or head, arranged to support the entire weight of the sign or vane as it rests upon the top of the rod F. The socket-heads D and D,when used with a rod passing one side of the vane or sign, may be provided with a recess, lug, or other suitable projection or fastening for securing it iirlnly to the sign or vane.

E E are short arms screwed into opposite sides of the four-way or other coupling D.

F is a rod or other suitable support, forming the axis on which the sign or vane swings. Its upper end fits loosely into the socket B, having bearings in the couplings C and D. This rod may be supported by braces K', Figs. l, 2.

F and G are portions of the rod F,.on which the bearings in the couplings C and D turn. When that portion of the rod F entering the socket is made of wood, F' is either a ring or cap, being a ring when the rod F passes through the coupling D, Fig. l, and a cap, Figs. 4 and 5, when the rod F terminates in the socket B and carries the weight of the sign or vane upon its upper end. \Vhen the rod F passes through the coupling D, as in Fig. l, F' may be arranged to give only a side bearing, or it may have both side and top bearings, and C may be made with a shoulder to assist in carrying the weight, as shown in the same ligure, if so preferred.

G', Fig. 3, is a ring with an externa-l flange, used in connection with the coupling C. It is secured to the rod F in any suitable manner, and serves to prevent the sign or vane from being lifted by the wind or otherwise.

H is a rod sometimes used to insure greater stiffness and stability. It may consist of a prolongation of the rod F, or of a smaller rod let into the top of the rod F, or it may consist of a rod screwed into the socket H', Fig. 5.

I I are bearings for the rod H when said rod is but a continuation of the rod F. rlhese bearings are firmly secured to the sign or vane. When the rod H screws into the socket H and turns with the sign, I I become mere fastenings for securing the sign to the rod.

.l is a collar and set-screw that may be used,

ICO

instead of the flanged ring G and coupling Cv', to prevent the sign or Vane from being thrown off by the Wind. It is used only when the rod H is secured to or forms part ofthe rod F.

K K are braces. Two of them pass from the coupling C or C te the under edge of the sign A, Fig. 2, and two from the saine coupling to the outer ends of the cross-arms E E. Two also pass freni the outer ends of these crossarins to the upper edge of the sign or vane, all being firmly secured at each end. This arrangement gives a strong, substantial support, by means of Which large signs niay be securely mounted.

L is a Weight placed upon the short end of the sign or vane to counterbalance the long end. It inay be made in any inanner suitable for the speciiied purpose, though in the present instance it consists of a tube elosed at the F, and counter-balanee L, substantially as and 3o for the purpose herein described.

GEO. XV. MFNEFEE.

Vitn esses:

JAMEs YOUNG, DAVID SAWTELLE. 

